Cabinet approves review of quarantine law

The Cabinet has granted approval to appoint a review committee to amend the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance, No. 3 of 1897. This ordinance serves as the primary law governing the prevention of infectious diseases entering and spreading in Sri Lanka, as well as the regulation of quarantine activities.

Although cabinet approval to amend the act was initially granted back in 2016, the revised bill was never actually presented to Parliament. With the significant growth in international travel and foreign trade having heightened the risk of infectious disease transmission, authorities are revisiting the legislation. The newly approved review committee will incorporate lessons learned from recent global pandemics to propose suitable amendments capable of tackling both current and future health challenges.